Begonia plant

ABSTRACT

This novel begonia was discovered as a mutation of Nixe, and principally differs therefrom by its appleblossom pink tepals.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofbegonia plant, botanically known as Begonia elatior, (hiemalis-Fotsch)and known by the cultivar name Elfe. The new cultivar is a mutation ofthe cultivar Nixe and was discovered in a group of flowering plants ofthe parent cultivar. The cultivar Nixe is disclosed in the pendingapplicaton of Margarette Rohde-Rieger, Ser. No. 596,453, filed July 16,1975. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by stem and leaf cuttingshas reproduced the unique features of the cultivar through successivepropagations.

The following characteristics in combination distinguish the new begoniafrom both its parent and other begonias commercially known and used inthe floriculture industry:

1. Bright appleblossom pink double flowers, compared to the red flowersof the parent variety Nixe. Elfe has somewhat fewer petals than parent.

2. Short, full, compact, and upright growth.

3. A very high degree of self-branching, thereby resulting in the newcultivar being valuable for commercial pot plant production and forpropagation by stem cuttings.

4. Round, heavily textured dark green foliage with nearly completeedges.

5. Leaf cuttings propagate 7 to 14 days more rapidly than the varietySchwabenland, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,320, granted to OttoRieger Mar. 13, 1973.

6. Leaf cuttings consistently produce four to six adventitious shoots atall times of the year whereas the well known Schwabenland types areinconsistent in the summer months.

7. Keeping quality of the flowers is better than in the Schwabenlandtypes, but more importantly the flowering persists for 4 to 6 weekslonger.

8. Leaf area is very uniform on each plant and remains quite constant atmaturity. Plant spacing can be decreased without jeopardizing quality.

9. Plant growth stays short and compact in all seasons so that growthretardants are not needed in summer months.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar when grown under commercial practices in Nurtingen,Germany, and shows the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new begonia variety basedon plants produced under commercial practices in Nurtingen, Germany.Color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Parentage: The new cultivar is a mutation of the cultivar Nixe.

Propagation: Leaf cuttings produce a saleable young plant withconsistently four or more shoots in 7-14 less days than the cultivarSchwabenland, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,320. Profuse selfbranching also allows the new cultivar to be propagated by stem cuttingsin 4 weeks.

Rooting habit: Either leaf cuttings or stem cutting will develop finedentritic roots in 4 weeks. However, the roots are fine and sensitiveand not particularly strong. Loose and mild soil is therefore necessary.

Plant form: Upright and compact.

Habit of growth: Medium rate of growth for this class of begonia,producing an upright, self branching, close internoded, compact plant.

Blooming habit: Very profuse flowering over an extended period of time.

Blooming season: Natural blooming season is in November but withcontrolled environmental conditions of temperature and daylight thisvariety can be brought into flower anytime of the year.

Foliage: Quite dense, roundish and uniform in size and shape atmaturity.

Size.--Approximately 10 cm. across by 8 cm. long.

Shape.--Nearly circular with very little sinus indentation.

Texture.--Leathery.

Margin.--Very fine serration.

Color.--Young, top -- yellow green 147A. Young, underside -- red-purple60A. Mature, top -- darker than 139A. Mature, underside -- green,heavily infused with red-purple 60A.

Disease resistance: Resistance to powdery mildew is about the same as inthe parent cultivar and the above noted Schwagenland cultivar whenplants are grown under conditions favorable to that disease.

FLOWERS

Borne: On strong upright peduncles with two or three originating at thesame point on the main flowering stem. This feature tends to give theappearance of several flowers clustered together in the floral display.

Quantity: Flowers in bloom at one time is somewhat above average forelatior type begonias.

Flower Buds: Flat, measuring approximately 2 cm. in diameter beforeopening.

Tepals: Semi-double type, numbering between 12 to 15, measuring 25 mm.wide by 30 mm. long. Total flower size is 5 to 6 cm. in diameter.

Tepal color.--Topside red 49A-B. The color of the underside of the firsttwo tepals is red 41-B, and the color of the underside of the othertepals is red 48-C.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--None seen to date.

Pollen.--None seen to date.

Styles/ovaries.--None seen to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of begonia plant characterizedparticularly by the combined characteristics of bright, appleblossompink colored, double flowers; short full compact and upright growthhabit in all seasons; a high degree of self-branching; round, heavilytextured dark green foliage with nearly complete edges; rapidpropagation from leaf cuttings, with the cuttings consistently producingfour to six adventitious shoots at all times of the year; excellentkeeping quality and long flowering period, and by the uniform leaf areaon each plant.